Ben Stokes eager to see Joe Root return to No 4 spot in England's batting line-up

New Test captain says star batsman is at his best in fourth position

• 

  England captain Joe Root is consoled by Ben Stokes after losing the third Test - and the series - against West Indies at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Getty

• 

  West Indies players celebrate after winning the three-match series 1-0. Getty

• 

  Dejected England captain Joe Root after the match. Reuters

• 

  West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite celebrates after defeating England by ten wickets on Day 4 in Grenada. AP

• 

  West Indies' Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell celebrate after beating England. AP

• 

  West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite batting on Day 4. Getty

• 

  West Indies bowler Kemar Roach successfully appeals for the wicket of England's Jack Leach. Getty

• 

  West Indies fielder Jason Holder, right, celebrates after taking the catch to dismiss England's Chris Woakes. AP

• 

  England batsman Chris Woakes of England walks off the field after being dismissed by Kemar Roach for 19. AFP

• 

  West Indies wiciketkeeper Joshua Da Silva celebrates taking the catch to dismiss England's Jack Leach for four. Reuters

New England Test captain Ben Stokes said that star batsman Joe Root will return to number four position a revamped England line-up.

After announcing that he will be batting at No 6, Stokes revealed he has asked his predecessor to return to his favoured position.

Root was in top form batting at four in 2021, scoring 1,708 runs and scoring six centuries. However, he had to move up a spot in the West Indies to bolster a weak top order.

Stokes wants Root to return to number four for the series against New Zealand, a position where he has accumulated over 5,000 runs and hit 14 centuries.

"I've already spoken with Joe. I've asked him to go back to four and I'm going to be at six," Stokes said.

"Wherever Joe bats he gets runs, but his best position is at four. Joe will probably be averaging 90 now instead of 60, so it'll be good.

"I feel him at four and me at six gives us a bit of experience in that gap. So you can obviously see where the places are opening up for people to put their hands up: it's three and five.

"I now feel I have to follow a lot more of the county games now to see who is scoring runs rather than just checking the Durham score."

Stokes had earlier stated that he is in favour of recalling veteran fast bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad, who were controversially left out of the three-Test series against the West Indies which England lost 1-0.

The all-rounder also stated he wants to lead a group of “selfless” cricketers after a period of turmoil in English cricket. England have won just one of their past 17 Tests and that included a 4-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia and a series defeat in the Caribbean.

Stokes' recent appointment is part of a major shake-up in England cricket, with former batsman Rob Key coming in as managing director of the men's team following the departure of Ashley Giles.

The first of three Tests against New Zealand gets under way at Lord's on June 2.

Stokes hits 17 sixes in record ton

• 

  Ben Stokes scored a record century for Durham in the County Championship match against Worcestershire. Getty

• 

  Ben Stokes of Durham hit 17 sixes in his century against Worcestershire. Getty

• 

  Durham's Ben Stokes hit 161 from just 88 balls against at New Road, Worcester. PA

• 

  Ben Stokes celebrates with David Bedingham after reaching his hundred. PA

• 

  Ben Stokes scored a rapid ton for Durham in the County Championship. Getty

• 

  Ben Stokes celebrated his England Test captaincy with a record century for Durham. Getty

• 

  Ben Stokes bowls at New Road. Getty